Got back yesterday from a 3 day 1750 mile road trip, the purpose of which was to deliver the 455 to a my engine guy in Florida who is gonna go thru it to ensure it was put back together correctly by some unknown shop...

 

Just finished adding a gear vendor overdrive behind a turbo 400 in my 68 cutlass convertible.

 

Finally! Started and ran! Now I gotta get battery fully charged again cause I killed it. Tomorrow fine tuning and start gathering exhaust parts. The 350 sounding good through open headers though!

 

Today I yanked all 4 wheels inspected front end and brakes (gonna need brake shoes in the rear this winter), painted drums, and cleaned and polished my wheels.

Then I attacked some rock chips, wet sanded the touch ups, and buffed. Tomorrow I think I'll detail the rest of it.

 

Stripped the upholstery, foam and padding from the rear seat back and cushions, preparing to restore the seats

In the process, I removed three, count 'em, three rear seat cushion covers. Kinda explains why the seat looked like it needed to go on a diet!

 

Guys:
I finished adding all new suspension parts and PS gearbox to the newly blasted and painted frame and front end this weekend of my 66 Cutlass, new everything. Man, she sure is pretty!! The rebuilt and detailed 12 bolt posi rearend is next on the list and it should be in roller form by weeks end. Next on the list is the Turbo 400 trans then the power plant, still have a long way to go though.
Thanks Ron

 

Just got done rotating the alt and checked bushings while doing it rewired connecter to add internal reg alt

 

Opened the garage doors, turned up my "Bob Seger Radio" station on Pandora, and spent some time detailing my Cutlass inside & out. Taking a break, then going out to use some aluminum polish (purple stuff) on my wheels and on the exhaust pipe just behind my tips. Haven't used that stuff yet, but I'm expecting she'll come out sparkling like jewelry. Later, I'll go out and drive around & get her dusty again. Oh well! It's nice to spend this quality time together.

 

Last night I got a few more (smaller) parts prepped for my engine overhaul. I gave the dipstick, brake booster vacuum line and the 2 emissions modules a good cleaning and clear coating. They all cleaned up beautifully and will be installed tonight. I'll be doing the same with the pump-to-carb fuel line and oil filler tube & cap tonight. Those should be back in tomorrow night and then on to the next parts!

 

Gave my 72' its second oil change since putting the motor back in 2 weeks ago. Have to do some touch up painting around the motor before this weekends car show. Looking forward to when I can swing getting the exhaust done.

 

It all started innocently enough, getting rid of some swirls in the black paint. Ended up pulling headlights, grill, headlight buckets,battery and more to get at hood lock mechanism which had decided to jam.Cleaned, lubed and put all back together. Tomorrow hopefully will be simple detailing for the big weekend car show at the park.

 

put on matched set of BFG's a week or so ago, today I put on new trim rings and OLDS Rocket emblems in the center caps...

went from this

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to this

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Is there a market for 14" wire wheel hubcabs?

 

Put my transmission back in. New headers are next along with some exhaust work since I extended the collectors.

 

And here is my progress so far. Loving it!

 

Installed grommets, breather, and PCV valve. Cleaned up the fan shroud and installed it. Installed upper radiator hose. Ordered new sneakers and shock absorbers... Hoping to make noise by July 10th!

 

discovered my alternator bracket was loose and found 1 broken bolt and broke another removing the mess....

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lower bolt had a bit of shank showing -

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cleaned up 'stud' and built up with wire feed welder, welded a nut to 'stud'

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quenched it with PB blaster after welding and it broke loose...

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So a partial success - the upper broken bolt was flush with head and we couldn't get a good weld on it - tried several times but couldn't get buildup to hold with bolt - POS LOL

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Today I tried to fix cooler line leak I've found since I got the car all back together and made it worse. Cross threaded top cooler line into fitting on trans. Screwed up the threads on the line and the fitting so looks like now I'll be waiting for another order of parts after I get done waiting for payday. All that's left between me and the road is cooler lines that don't leak, pipes and mufflers to put on the headers, timing and fine tuning, and New York State inspection. Getting down to the wire for taking the car for a ride to Syracuse Nationals this year. Again. Looking kinda grim but still hopeful. Stupid bi weekly pay schedule be damned! Lol!

 

Guys:
I got the 66 Cutlass into a complete rolling chassis this weekend including the steel brake lines. I am sore and tired, that was alot of work to get to this point. I think I will take a few days off and get caught up on things around the house, I don't even want to think about the man hours I have put in so far. I have Great seats to the Gregg Allman show @ the old Ryman Auditorium this Friday, I think I will get into an Allman Brothers frame of mind this week. This is a great thread, not really sure who started it, but it gives us all a place to talk about and share our passion. Still a long way to go though.
Ron

 

I reconditioned my rear tail lights, fabricated the hold down attachments for my ram air scoops, restored my altenator bracket and the metal liner for the glove compartment and finished one of the head light metal housings that hold the headlights, still have the dash and steering column left to do then a few odds and ends. Then the body comes off the chassis and off to the blaster!!!

 

Finished getting the trunk pan out. Lots of spot weld drilling. What a PITA! Now I can see what I have in store before I put the new pan in.
Here are before and after Pix.

 

Put on a better door to my cutlass now looking for front fender.

 

Flushed the rad...and then burned up a tank of gas

Ted

 

Guys:
This is next on my list, so this is what I have to look forward to. Looks like a whole lot of work, oh well. They never said it would be easy.
Ron

 

Trying to fix the courtesy light in my '56. But no luck so far.

 

It is a TON of work. I found it a lot easier to cut out the whole pan as close to the edges as possible with a good air chisel (CP 714) and panel bit. Then go around drilling out the spot welds.

 

I've done a lot of work the last couple days.

Installed the dash vents for the Vintage Air unit. I unfortunately had to take apart the drivers side vent because I noticed I was missing the headlight switch bulb holder. It took me about 45 min to install it too. Also the dash temp control unit.

I removed the two courtesy dash lights on both sides of the steering wheel. I then took them apart and painted them. They where black on the inside so I painted the white. Wow do they give off A LOT of light now.

Installed the repo rally pack gauges. Of course I followed Robs post on lightening then up. I also took apart, cleaned, and painted the speedo too. Everything went well with that.

I installed the power trunk release I purchased from oldspackrat, thanks Scott! I'll have to wait to do the final instal because I have to run the power wire under the carpet which I have to do for my speaker wires anyway. But it worked perfectly when I tried it.

What else did I do??? Oh I know! The other night I watch the Chicago Blackhawks Win the Stanley Cup! a perfect end to a perfect season! Go Hawks!!!

 

Finally got around to installing the snow skis on the NOS ski racks I got from another member. I got the skis from Brian in Minnesota. They look period correct right? I cruised to pick up my daughter from church camp last week with them & they didn't fly off!
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Finished putting together the rebuilt 330, then mounted the transmission to the motor. Waiting for help to arrive so we can drop er in and fire it up (hopefully)

 

Finally wrapped up my flexplate swap and in finally installed my front skinnies along with finding out what that grinding noise was.

 

Today I finally put the dash back into the Cutlass. Even put the glove box in this time.

I've been working on wiring up my aftermarket gauges after work all week.

 

went to the hurst olds nationals today found some nice nos parts for my 69w30 ron memmer has great parts

 

Went to install new Gage's today and could move around garage ,so I cleaned most of the day and made a shelf for all my new goodies waiting for install

 

I was wondering why the ram air intake on my w30 was closing when I accelerate the engine. Discovered the goon that previously owned the car had mixed up all the breather hoses! took an hour to get it right using the Manual, the pictures are shocking too small and not enough detail and no under the breather pics, except in another chapter 300 pages away in the book! Now working great. I feel satisfied.

 

I haven't been able to get our baby registered because of oil leaks. Wanted to take her to York Motor Show July 5/6. Just have to find someone that will change the oil pan and pinion seal this week and allow me over the pits before Friday!

 

Guys:
I got back into the project yesterday, roughed in the new floors. I am now ready to cut out the old floors and make the finish cuts and install the new ones this week after I refill the cylinder for the welder. This is a dirty nasty job w/ all the grinding and sanding that is needed to do the job right, the clecos I bought make the fitting easier though, highly recommend you buy some if you are doing sheetmetal work. Long way to go though.
Thanks Ron

 

Chased after misc. small parts today... and flushed out the heater core, then pressure tested it.... Hooked it up to the hose on the house and slowly opened up the valve (MAKE SURE you have a vacuum breaker on your hose so coolant does not get back into your water system as you turn off your faucet!) Happily it did not leak... yet... Still waiting on my transmission line flush kit so I can clear them out and finish hooking up the transmission lines and then the radiator hoses. Then it will be time for fluids!

 

Repaired the directional lamp at the driver side. Installed a factory radio support bracket and the two topside panel real seals.

 

The 2 day detailing previously paid off, won best in class under modified and another club pick from a visiting group at the show yesterday. Today I cleaned the bug splatter off and it's off to our annual Granbury show tonight from 7-11pm.

 

Finished cleaning up and painting my tranny cooler lines and radiator. They should all be back in hopefully in the next few days. ..oh and I finally got a new breather cap grommet from rockauto...not quite the proper fit but it works and it's in at least..2 more little things checked off the list!

 

Just getting rolling on the 67 442 hardtop clone for my wife. It will be built to be a very close match to my 67 442 convertible, same colors with factory power windows and AC. Just small block powered. Drove it around and checked out how things are working now.